Water skis



L. E. ALMGREN July 9, 1963 WATER SKIS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 12. 1960 INVENTOR. Z. 19/777 702 .1 was L, E. ALMGREN July 9, 1963 WATER SKIS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 12. 1960 INVENTOR. [02125 FY2 \nHFL. -f. Wm m My mm; wg Mi \w w hm wm y 1963 L. E ALMGREN 3,096,530

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United States Patent 3,096,530 a 7 WATER SKIS Louis E. Almgren, 1928 Rutherford Ave., Chicago 35, Ill. Filed Oct. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 62,248 Claims. (Cl. 9-310) The present invention relates to water skis, and is particularly concerned with the provision of improved water skis adapted to be held and maintained by the user in the best position for take-off with a minimum amount of effort or skill.

Various methods of take-off with water skis are practiced by different users, depending upon the point of takeoff; but the best point of take-off is in fairly deep water; and this is also the most frequent point from which takeoff is made on water skis because water skiers often take a spill in the deeper water, where it is necessary to start off again.

The proper position for such a take-off is with the feet and skis well spread for better stability and with the skis held at an angle which is diagonal to the surface of the water so that a pull on the skier will cause the skis to rise to the surface into skiing position.

It is difiicult to hold the skis in this starting position, especially for the novice or beginner or in rough water; and it is difficult to maintain the proper position while the driver of the towing boat is getting ready to start or build up speed. When the skier finds one ski dropping below the other and when he tries to raise that ski, the torque exerted on his body reacts on the position of the other ski; and frequently a good take-off depends on exact timing, as the skier must reach the best position for takeoff at the same time the towing boat begins to build up speed, which causes the water to exert a pressure on the bottom of the ski.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of improved water skis, the structure of which is adapted to enable the skier to assume an optimum position for takeoff in the water and to maintain such a position while waiting for the towing boat to start up and build up speed with a minimum amount of difficulty,

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved water skis which make it easier for beginners and skiers of moderate skill, as well as those who are most skillful, .to get in the best position for take-off and to maintain that position with greater ease and facility than with the skis of the prior art.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved skis which are easier to find in the water after a ski has become lost by becoming detached from the foot of the skier.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved ski structure provided with a buoyant chamber located at the forward end of each ski above the body of the ski and immediately behind the curved forward end so that the buoyancy takes effect at the front end of the ski.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a ski having such a buoyant chamber which is simple in construction, has a minimum number of parts, is adapted to be manufactured at a low cost, and which may be constructed of the same materials as are now used in various different types of ski structures.

Another object of the invention is the provision of improved skis which may serve as safety devices for use the water.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved shape for water skis, the parts of which are streamlined and suitably curved so that there are no sharp projections which might cause injury to users.

as a life saving body by anyone needing such support in Patented July 9, 1963 ,my prior application on Water Skis, filed September 19,

1960, Ser. No. 56,715, now abandoned.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the three sheets of drawings,

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration showing one of the best positions which may be taken by a user for beginning the take-oif with the present skis, utilizing a pair of skis of the present construction and a life saving jacket;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a water ski embodying my invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view in partial section;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 4-4 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 5-5 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view, taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of FIG. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2 of a modification in which the ski is provided with a readily attachable unitary flotation body which is located rearwardly of the front end of the ski and which may be of minimum size;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the ski of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary top plan view of another modification in which the ski is provided with a readily attachable flotation member which may be in the form of a block of balsa wood, cork, polyethylene foam, or other light material, detachably secured to the ski by a plurality of screw bolts;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of FIG. 9 in partial section;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of another streamlined form of flotation body which may be made of any of the materials just mentioned, and which is quickly attachable to existing skis;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary side elevational view of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is another fragmentary top plan view of the front end of a ski provided with a minimum size streamlined fiotation body, which may be made of light wood, balsa wood, cork, polystyrene foam, or similar material, which is quickly attachable to a ski;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary side elevational view of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary top plan view of another ski having a flotation body which is detachably secured, and which may be shaped in imitation of a seal or any other desired artistic shape; 15FIG. 16 is a fragmentary side elevational view of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a portion of a ski having a short flotation body in the form of a block, which is located rearwardly of the front end and just in front of the foot fastening, where it is secured by a flexible band having a buckle;

FIG. 18 is a similar view of another modification in which a flotation block is secured by means of stirrups and a pair of flexible straps having buckles.

Referring to FIG. 1, this is a diagrammatic illustration of a new combination of elements including my improved skis in which the user is provided with any suitable form of life preserver jacket 11 and a pair of my skis 12, 13, having buoyant chambers 14, 15 toward the front end of the skis.

These chambers are preferably located as far forward as possible; and this portion of the skis may be colored or decorated in such manner that they are more readily visible when a ski has been lost and is floating in the Water.

Ordinarily water skis are so made that they float; but as they float level or nearly level in the water, they are practically submerged and hard to see, whereas my water skis will float with the front end upward, as the buoyant chambers tend to fill that end of the ski above the water, while the other end extends downward, when the ski is made of aluminum or Fiberglas, heavier than water. When the ski is made of wood, only the float projects above the horizontally floating ski in the water.

Each ski may be constructed with the usual components; and the ski has a flat body 16 with an upwardly turned end 17, terminating at a rounded point 18. Tile rear end of the ski is preferably rounded at 19; and it may be provided with a metallic aluminum fin 20 having a central attaching flange 21, which is secured to the bottom of the body 16 by bolts or rivets 22.

The ski is preferably provided with suitable foot receiving means or harness for engagement with the feet of the user; and this may comprise a forward U-shaped soft, resilient, flexible rubber member 22 having attaching flanges 23, which are clamped to the ski by a pair of metal strips 24, 25 secured by through rivets 26, which extend through the rubber and through the ski body, but are located flush or below the surface on the lower side of the ski.

The U-shaped rubber member 27 tapers downward toward the toe of the user and has its largest opening at the rear end 28 over the instep and a smaller opening 29 at the front end for the toes.

The foot of the user is held in the U-shaped member 27 by a rear molded rubber member 30 of resilient, flexible rubber having an attaching flange which is secured to the metal base plate 31 by a plurality of rivets 32 passing through the base plate through the rubber attaching flange and through a curved top plate 33.

The heel securing member 30 slopes forward toward its top so that it overhangs the heel and has a U-shaped formation 34, open at the top, engaging above the heel.

The base plate 31 is preferably rectangular in form, but has a U-shaped opening 34 around the heel; and it is provided with a pair of lateral slots 35 receiving a pair of screw bolts 36, which are threaded into nuts located flush with the lower surface of the ski so that the heel member may be adjusted forward and backward and clamped in position to secure the ski on the foot of the user.

The buoyant chambers 14, 15 may be identical and they are located, as shown, between the foot harness forward portion 22 and the rounded point 18 of the ski. The chambers may consist of an upper wall 37, which is stream-lined to substantially U-shape, as shown in FIG. 4, and tapered backward to become shallower at 38, near its rear end; and the lower edges 39, of the wall 37 are shaped to abut against the top of the ski, which they fit, and with which they form the buoyant chamber 14 that is filled with air. In some embodiments of the invention the buoyant chamber may be filled with plastic foam.

The edges 39, 40 are secured to the top of the ski by waterproof cement; and when made of wood, the entire ski is primed and coated with waterproof varnish so that it will not absorb water and will not become water-logged.

I desire it to be understood that the illustration of the ski construction is merely exemplary of one type; and the ski may be made of light metals, such as aluminum, in which case the wall 37 would be secured by suitable bolts and a gasket to insure an air-tight construction. The skis may also be made out of Fiberglas or any of the materials now used for making water skis.

Referring to FIGS. 7 and 8, these are views showing a modification of the invention in which the ski 41 is provided with a readily attachable and detachable buoyant member 42 located just rearwardly of the front end 18 of the ski, since it has been found that this is a suitable and effective location for a buoyant member of smaller size. The upward projection of member 42 is less than the upward projection of the forward end 18 of the ski (FIG. 8) whereby the member does not interfere with the normal travel of the ski through water when in use.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, where the top of the ski is provided with a buoyant unit extending to the front tip of the ski, much of this buoyant unit is actually located above the water, indicating that it may be larger than absolutely necessary for use in facilitating the easy take-off. Also, there are thousands of skis already in use, to which such a buoyant unit may be applied if it is constructed as a separate accessory to be attached to present skis.

Thus the modification of FIGS. 7 and 8 may consist of a molded plastic or drawn metal upper wall 43 made of aluminum or any suitable plastic, and having a border flange 44 which may be secured to a lower wall member 45 with an intermediate gasket, or may be cemented or welded in such manner as to form a closed chamber 46.

The lower wall fits the contour of the ski where it is to be attached; and it may be secured to the ski by a plurality of wood screws or bolts 47, provided they are arranged in such manner that there are no projections on the bottom of the ski.

The buoyant unit 42 may be molded out of rubber and may be secured by waterproof glue or adhesive to any type of existing ski. In the event it is made of metal, the lower wall may be Welded, brazed or riveted to the top wall; and if desired, it may be empty and filled with air or it may have a filling of Styrofoam or other buoyant plastic foam.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, this is a modification in which a self-contained rectangular block 48 of balsa, cork, or light Wood is secured to the top of the ski 49 in front of the foot fastenings, but rearwardly of the front end 18. Such a buoyant block may be made also of plastic foam, such as Styrofoam; and it may be solid or hollow, or made of non-buoyant materials when it is hollow and filled with air or gas.

It may be attached to the ski by having through bolts 50, the heads 51 of which are countersunk in the bottom of the ski; and the bolts may pass through bores 52 in the block 48 and may be provided with washers 53 and wing nuts 54, clamping the buoyant unit to the ski.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, these are views of another modification in which a stream-lined buoyant body 55 of buoyant balsa, cork, light wood, or plastic foam is shaped to fit the top of the ski 56 and secured to the ski by a plurality of screw bolts 57 provided with washers and wing nuts 58, thereby providing an assembly which can be attached to any existing ski.

Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, in this modification the buoyant unit 59 is stream-lined and made of minimum thickness to provide the necessary amount of buoyancy. It is located rearwardly of the curved end 18 to eliminate the necessity for shaping the buoyant unit to fit the curved end of the ski; and it is secured by a plurality of bolts 60 having wing nuts 61.

Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, in this embodiment the buoyant member 62 simulates the shape of a seal; but it may be varied in its design to simulate any animal, fish, or bird, and may be attached to the ski by a plurality of wood screws 63 screwed into the wood of the ski, but not penetrating to the bottom of the ski.

Referring to FIG. 17, in this modification a minimum size flotation unit 64 comprises a hollow metal or plastic 7 box filled with air or plastic foam, or it may consist of Referring to FIG. 18, this is a modification in which a similar block 64 is secured by straps 68 which are carried by the metal stirrups 69, which in turn are secured by wood screws 70 to the top of the ski.

Any of the buoyant units mentioned may be stamped out of thin steel, brass, copper, plastic, Fiberglas, rubber, or any suitable material.

It will thus be observed that the present invention is equally adaptable to existing skis, which may be equipped with various types of flotation units adapted to hold the forward end of the ski in an uppermost position.

The size and length of the-members 14, 15 may vary according to the size of the ski and the weight of the user; and one example of a water ski has a flotation chamber with a volume of approximately 231 cubic inches, or one gallon, displacing one gallon of water and having sufficient flotation to hold the water skis in the position of FIG. 1 when the user is wearing a life preserver jacket as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The buoyant chambers on the skis hold the forward end of the skis in an uppermost position and enable the user to assume the position shown in FIG. 1, which is practically the optimum position for take-off; and the user may maintain this position without the difficulty that is encountered with the skis of the prior art.

The matter of the timing of the take-off becomes less critical with the present water skis because it is easier to hold the skis in the take-off position; and the skis may also be used as a buoy to aid in the support of the user when he is in the water at a distance from the boat.

As previously stated, they are also visible; and a lost ski may be found more easily because the front end tends to project upward, out of the water.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved ski construction which makes the take-off easier for beginners and those not skilled in water skiing; but the present skis are also advantageous to anyone, as they make the take-off easier, they are more readily visible when it is necessary to find a lost ski; and one or both skis may be used as a buoy for supporting the user in the water in case it is necessary.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A water ski having an elongated body and an upwardly turned front end, the said ski having its bottom substantially plane and having its upper side provided with a flotation member at its front end only and having foot engaging means on its upper side between the ends of the ski in the proper location to support a skier, said ski assuming a position diagonal to the water surface with its front end projecting upward out of the water when supported on the foot of the skier, due to the downward pressure on the ski by the foot of the skier at the foot engaging means behind the flotation member, which holds the front end of the ski uppermost at this time with the front end of the ski out of the water in such position that the skier may start from a still position slowly and gradually increasing speed until he is skiing on top of the water, and means for attaching said floation member to the ski.

2. A water ski according to claim 1, wherein said flotation member comprises a shaped upper shell having an attaching flange, a bottom wall attached to said flange,

and quickly attachable means for securing said flotation member to the top of the ski.

3. A water ski having an elongated body and an upwardly turned front end, the said ski having its bottom substantially plane and having its upper side provided with a flotation member only at its front end and having foot engaging means on its upper side between the ends of the ski in the proper location to support a skier, said ski assuming a position diagonal to the water surface with its front end projecting upward out of the water when supported on the foot of the skier, due to the downward pressure on the ski by the foot .of the skier at the foot engaging means behind the flotation member, which flotation member holds the front end of the ski uppermost at this time with the front end of the ski out of the water in such position that the skier may start from a still position slowly and gradually increasing speed until he is skiing on top of the water.

4. A device for use in combination with a water ski to simplify the use of the ski and provide desirable skiing characteristics particularly in starting and stopping, wherein the ski comprises an elongated relatively narrow body substantially flat for the major portion of its length from a rear end to adjacent a forward end, said forward end being curved upwardly, said body having a bottom side and an upper side, and foot receiving means on said upper side between said rear and forward ends, said device comprising a self-contained highly buoyant element positionable only on the ski upper side in a location between the ski forward end and the foot receiving means, means for attaching said chamber to the ski, said ski when at-rest in Water and with a person applying a downward force at said foot receiving means and rearwardly of said element causing the ski rear end to submerge, the body of the ski assuming an angle to the surface of the water and said forward end projecting upwardly out of the water, the buoyancy provided by said element being such that the ski forward end is prevented from submerging under the Weight of the person applying said force to said foot receiving means.

5. A device for use in combination with a water ski as recited in claim 4 wherein said element is elongated in the direction of elongation of the ski and having a flat bottom side which seats against said ski upper side rearwardly of the curved forward end.

6. A device for use in combination with a water ski as recited in claim 4 wherein said means for attaching said element to the ski comprises a first fastening member which connects a forward end of said element to the ski and .a second fastening member which connects a rear end of the element to the ski, both of said members being detichable whereby the element may be removed from the s 1.

7. A device for use in combination with a water ski as recited in claim 5 wherein said element bottom side has portions which extend outwardly of the remainder of the element to provide flanges with which said attaching means iiengageable to facilitate connection of the element. to the s 1.

8. A device for use in combination with a water ski as recited in claim 4 wherein said element has a width not greater than the width of the ski whereby the chamber does not extend beyond the ski and impair the travel of the ski in the water.

9. A device for use in combination with a water ski as recited in claim 4 wherein the upward projection of said element from said ski upper side is less than the upward projection of the upturned forward end of the ski whereby the element does not interfere with the normal travel of the ski through water when in use.

10. A device for use in combination with a water ski to simplify the use of the ski and provide desirable skiing characteristics particularly in starting and stopping, Wherein the ski comprises an elongated relatively narrow body substantially flat for the major potion of its length from a rear end to adjacent a forward end, said forward end being upturned, said body having a bottom side and an upper side, and foot receiving means on said upper side between the rear and forward end of the ski, said device comprising a highly buoyant element positionable on the ski upper side in a location between the ski forward end and the foot receiving means, means for attaching said element to the ski, said ski when at-rest in water and with a person applying a downward force at said foot receiving means and rearwardly of said buoyant element causing the body of the ski to assume an angle to the surface of the water with said rear end submerged and said forward end projecting upwardly out of the water, the buoyancy provided by said element being such that the ski forward end is held from submerging.

1,104,441 Nelsen July 21, 1914 8 Erickson Aug. 6, 1929 Loy May 13, 1930 Chesnut Feb. 24, 1931 Davidson July 26, 1932 Wheeler July 18, 1933 Grant July 19, 1938 Stephens Sept. 13, 1949 Taylor Apr. 10, 1956 Puckett May 31, 1960 Klein May 1, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Apr. 15, 1954 Canada Aug. 9, 1955 France July 30, 1956 OTHER REFERENCES July 1957. 

3. A WATER SKI HAVING AN ELONGATED BODY AND AN UPWARDLY TURNED FRONT END, THE SAID SKI HAVING ITS BOTTOM SUBSTANTIALLY PLANE AND HAVING ITS UPPER SIDE PROVIDED WITH A FLOTATION MEMBER ONLY AT ITS FRONT END AND HAVING FOOT ENGAGING MEANS ON ITS UPPER SIDE BETWEEN THE ENDS OF THE SKI IN THE PROPER LOCATION TO SUPPORT A SKIER, SAID SKI ASSUMING A POSITION DIAGONAL TO THE WATER SURFACE WITH ITS FRONT END PROJECTING UPWARD OUT OF THE WATER WHEN SUPPORTED ON THE FOOT OF THE SKIER, DUE TO THE DOWNWARD PRESSURE ON THE SKI BY THE FOOT OF THE SKIER AT THE FOOT ENGAGING MEANS BEHIND THE FLOTATION MEMBER, WHICH FLOTATION MEMBER HOLDS THE FRONT END OF SKI UPPERMOST AT THIS TIME WITH THE FRONT END OF THE SKI OUT OF THE WATER IN SUCH POSITION THAT THE SKIER MAY START FROM A STILL POSITION SLOWLY AND GRADUALLY INCREASING SPEED UNTIL HE IS SKIING ON TOP OF THE WATER. 